what are the advantages and disadvantages of constructing tank across reservoirs
Answers
What Are the Disadvantages of Concrete Storage Tanks?
Concrete storage tanks are frequently used for underground storage of water. However, there are a number of issues common to concrete storage tanks that can compromise the material stored in the tank. Learn about some of the problems found in concrete storage tanks and how storage tank materials like fiberglass and stainless steel present a superior alternative to concrete storage.
The Disadvantages of Concrete Storage Tanks
Leaks
Concrete is not a flexible material, and is subject to the expansion and contraction cause by freeze thaw cycles. This means that over time, the integrity of the concrete can be weakened, to the point where it will eventually crack and the contents of the tank will leak out.
Leaching
Leaching can occur in concrete storage tanks. This is because concrete is porous and is made with calcium carbonate. If the water in the tank is acidic, it will leach the calcium from the concrete into the water. This results in hard water. Another disadvantage of porous concrete is that the pores provide bacteria with a place to grab a foothold and grow. The tank can be sealed to reduce the likelihood of leaching and bacteria growth.
Expensive
Concrete storage tanks are very expensive to install and remove. Repair of concrete storage tanks is also expensive.
The Advantages of Fiberglass and Stainless Steel Storage Tanks
For storage of water, and a number of other liquids, fiberglass and stainless steel offer a smart alternative to concrete.
Fiberglass and steel are both non-porous, which means they won’t leach chemicals into the water, and provide no spaces for bacteria growth.
Steel and fiberglass are very resistant to corrosion, as well as the effects of the freeze thaw cycle.
Steel and fiberglass storage tanks come in single, double, and even triple-walled constructions, in order to ensure maximum protection of the product.
Steel and fiberglass are recyclable materials that can be reused after their lives as storage tanks to make other products.
ADVANTAGES:
1. Once a dam is constructed, electricity can be produced at a constant rate.
2. If electricity is not needed, the sluice gates can be shut, stopping electricity generation. The water can be saved for use another time when electricity demand is high.
3. Dams are designed to last many decades and so can contribute to the generation of electricity for many years / decades.
4. The lake that forms behind the dam can be used for water sports and leisure / pleasure activities. Often large dams become tourist attractions in their own right.
5. The lake's water can be used for irrigation purposes.
6. The build up of water in the lake means that energy can be stored until needed, when the water is released to produce electricity.
7. When in use, electricity produced by dam systems do not produce green house gases. They do not pollute the atmosphere.
DISADVANATGES:
1. Dams are extremely expensive to build and must be built to a very high standard.
2. The high cost of dam construction means that they must operate for many decades to become profitable.
3. The flooding of large areas of land means that the natural environment is destroyed.
4. People living in villages and towns that are in the valley to be flooded, must move out. This means that they lose their farms and businesses. In some countries, people are forcibly removed so that hydro-power schemes can go ahead.
5. The building of large dams can cause serious geological damage. For example, the building of the Hoover Dam in the USA triggered a number of earth quakes and has depressed the earths surface at its location.
6. Although modern planning and design of dams is good, in the past old dams have been known to be breached (the dam gives under the weight of water in the lake). This has led to deaths and flooding.
7. Dams built blocking the progress of a river in one country usually means that the water supply from the same river in the following country is out of their control. This can lead to serious problems between neighbouring countries.
8. Building a large dam alters the natural water table level. For example, the building of the Aswan Dam in Egypt has altered the level of the water table. This is slowly leading to damage of many of its ancient monuments as salts and destructive minerals are deposited in the stone work from rising damp caused by the changing water table level.